Phytochromes: More than meets the eye

Trends Plant Sci.           online article

Phytochromes play a key role in the regulation of plant growth and development. Phytochrome-related proteins also occur in some bacteria, fungi, and algae.We highlight recent findings on the evolution of phytochromes and discuss novel hypotheses on the function of phytochromes in diatoms,a group of mainly pelagic algae.